Palace of Holyroodhouse Peak

Standing at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official home of Her Majesty The Queen in Scotland, and is used by Her Majesty for State ceremonies and official entertaining.

The Palace has been a royal residence for over 500 years and is closely associated with Scotland’s rich history. A visit to the Palace includes the Historic Apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, which were the setting for many dramatic episodes in her short and turbulent reign, including the brutal murder of her Italian secretary, David Rizzio, by her husband, Lord Darnley. Her Bedchamber has been described as 'the most famous room in Scotland'.

In the Palace's State Apartments, visitors can see the magnificent Great Gallery, where Bonnie Prince Charlie held lavish balls when he set up his Jacobite Court at the Palace in September 1745. The State Apartments today reflect the changing tastes of successive monarchs and are renowned for their fine plasterwork ceilings and unrivalled collection of Brussels tapestries. They are furnished with numerous works of art from the Royal Collection, many of which have long associations with Holyroodhouse and Scotland.

A visit to the Palace includes the opportunity to explore the ruins of Holyrood Abbey and the Palace’s unique gardens, which are set against the spectacular backdrop of Arthur's Seat. A newly created physic garden situated on the Abbey Strand contains a colourful array of medicinal and culinary plants inspired by some of the earliest recorded gardens on the site. At the Café at the Palace, visitors can enjoy home-made dishes made from locally sourced produce, from light refreshments and lunch to afternoon tea.

At the Palace of Holyroodhouse between July and September, visitors can enjoy a display of outfits worn by Her Majesty on occasions to celebrate the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees. A highlight will be the pink dress, coat and stole designed by the royal couturier Sir Hardy Amies in 1977 for Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee, alongside the matching hat designed by Simone Mirman with flowerheads hanging from silk stems. The ensemble was worn by Her Majesty at the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on 7 June 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of her Accession.